Episodes

  • Brianne Nadeau Talks Potential Human Rights Violations During Federal Surge

    Brianne Nadeau Talks Potential Human Rights Violations During Federal Surge
    Nov 17 2025
    In our most recent Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discussed her committee's late October hearing into potential human rights violations during the federal surge of law enforcement into the District in recent months. We discuss the powerful testimony she received from residents, experts, advocates, and ANC Commissioners. Plus, her insights into why no DC government witnesses appeared at the hearing, and her thoughts on how to reconcile differing accounts by the mayor and police chief on whether cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials is still ongoing.
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    33 mins
  • Getting to Know Wendell Felder

    Getting to Know Wendell Felder
    Nov 14 2025
    In our latest Hearing the Council episode, we get to know Ward 7's Wendell Felder. Elected in November of 2024, and serving since January, we tackle the obligatory biographical deep dive that Hearing the Council always undertakes with our newest Councilmembers. We learn about Councilmember Felder's origins as a fourth generation native Washingtonian, how running footraces in track led to political races for student government, and how initial setbacks in both school and District government informed his later successes. We discuss one key mentor in local government and business, plus how he followed childhood hydrant hijinks with an eventual seat on the DC Water board. And finally, as is traditional in our first interviews with Councilmembers, we have him rank his favorite desserts.
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    36 mins
  • Janeese Lewis George Talks About Her Local News Funding Act

    Janeese Lewis George Talks About Her Local News Funding Act
    Oct 16 2025
    In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George discusses her proposed Local News Funding Act. At a time when local news outlets are vanishing but the need for quality local journalism has never been greater, Councilmember Lewis George touts her legislation to square this circle. Her proposal: setting aside 0.1% of the District budget to be distributed by DC voters to accredited local journalism outlets. We analyze the bill and its prospects. Plus, for the fun round, she picks which of her colleagues are best suited to join her for a dance lesson, camping trip, or heated customer service phone call.
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    32 mins
  • Matthew Frumin Talks Budget---The Standoff with the Hill, Plus Mayor/Council/CFO Dynamics

    Matthew Frumin Talks Budget---The Standoff with the Hill, Plus Mayor/Council/CFO Dynamics
    Jun 22 2025
    In a May 2025 visit to "Hearing the Council" to continue talking about DC's budget standoff, Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin walks us through every detail of this year's budget limbo. From the Congressional Continuing Resolution that put us back on our heels to the coordinated effort by DC officials and the public to get it undone, and from past efforts to pin the mayor down on a budget transmittal date to other potential stumbling blocks that could still impact the Council's summer budget deliberations, we leave no stone unturned. It's a discussion so meaty, we didn't even have time for the "fun round."
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    35 mins
  • Zachary Parker Talks Budget Standoff, Committee Chairmanship, and Youth Rehabilitation

    Zachary Parker Talks Budget Standoff, Committee Chairmanship, and Youth Rehabilitation
    Apr 2 2025
    In the latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses the District government's ongoing budget standoff. He talks about the importance of avoiding a perilous mid-year, $1 billion cut to our previously-approved balanced budget for the ongoing fiscal year. He also discusses his new responsibilities as a committee chair, and the immense importance of the District government getting youth rehabilitation right. Plus, which colleagues he thinks could best shoulder snow shoveling responsibilities, and who "tends to be pretty fly," so might be a good clothes shopping companion.
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    29 mins
  • Matthew Frumin Talks DC Fighting Back, Becoming a Committee Chair, and the Challenge of Homelessness

    Matthew Frumin Talks DC Fighting Back, Becoming a Committee Chair, and the Challenge of Homelessness
    Mar 27 2025
    In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses how DC residents and civil society came together to combat the unexpected mid-year budget cut recently faced by the District. Plus, he provides insight into the benefits and challenges of becoming a Council committee chair. Specifically, he outlines his new committee's early performance oversight work on the topic of homelessness, thornier than ever in the current political climate. And in the "fun round," he opines on which of his colleagues would be best suited to odd jobs like shoveling snow and putting on a puppet show.
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    43 mins
  • Robert White Discusses 2025 Priorities, Housing, Vocational Education & What Can Bring Us Together

    Robert White Discusses 2025 Priorities, Housing, Vocational Education & What Can Bring Us Together
    Feb 24 2025
    In our latest Hearing the Council interview, we chat with At-Large Councilmember Robert White about the complicated moment we are all living through currently, plus his policy priorities for 2025. We talk about challenges facing both housing development and affordability, including the dry pipeline of future multifamily housing permits in the District. We discuss the great promise held by vocational education, but why it remains an underutilized tool. And we talk about what if anything can bring DC together during these challenging times. Plus, for the fun round, he picks which of his colleagues he would choose to help with miscellaneous tasks, like clothes shopping and putting on a puppet show.
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    37 mins
  • Brianne Nadeau Talks About Her Bottle Deposit Bill and Her Neighborhood Management Entities Bill

    Brianne Nadeau Talks About Her Bottle Deposit Bill and Her Neighborhood Management Entities Bill
    Jan 24 2025
    In the first Hearing the Council interview of 2025, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discusses two of her initial legislative priorities for the New Year: her soon-to-be-introduced bottle deposit and Neighborhood Management Entities bills. Councilmember Nadeau discusses how the bottle (and can) deposit bill would aim to greatly reduce the amount of these items in our rivers and woods, as well as on our streets. Every resident and business would be empowered to tackle the dual goals of environmental protection and neighborhood beautification through this proposed measure. Additionally, she discusses how her proposed Neighborhood Management Entities bill would allow dense mixed use communities like Ward 1's U Street and Columbia Heights neighborhoods to better and more collaboratively tackle issues and projects, from cleanliness to safety to event planning. Plus, as always, we had the "fun round," where Councilmember Nadeau selected which of her colleagues would be best suited to join her in tackling a range of tasks, from putting on a puppet show to meeting with the Trump Administration.
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    39 mins